Electrical switch



Nov. 14, 1933. c. J. LEEAH ET AL,

ELECTRICAL` 'SWITCH Fivled Oct. 18, 1932 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Inventor By f g .glad

,liorney .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 14, 1933. c. J. LEEAH ET AL ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed oct. 18, 1952 if /A Nov. 14, 1933. b 1 LEEAH Eq- AL 1,935,509

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Oct, 18, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor @www /1 Homey Patented Nov. 14, 1933 .UNITED YSTATES ELECTRICAL SWITCH Charles J. Leeah and James A. Leeah, Houston, Tex., assignors of one-third to William M.

Gould, Houston, Tex.

Application October i3, 1932.

Serial No. 638,380

3 Claims. (Cl. 20S-161) This invention appertains 'to new and useful improvements in. the art oi circuit makers and breakers, and more particularly to a switch which can be employed on automobiles, busses, trucks,A

roplanes, and other conveyances using an elec-1 trical system involving a battery.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a switch for interposition between the ground side of a battery and ground so that m the current :dow from the battery can be entirely shut oft` from a single point.

Another important object o` the invention is to provide a ground switch for batteries of the secondary type whereby the4 now of current there 35 from can be entirely shut on to eliminate fire hazards and other conditions that can be caused by short circuiting.

Various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following speciiication.

1n the drawingszjj Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side-.elevational view of the motor vehicle. partly broken away to disclose the switch and its remote controlling means.

Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view taken substantially online 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 represents a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary horizontal secitonal view through the switch casing with parts removed.

Fig. '7 represents a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on line 7*? of Fig. 4i.

Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary elevational View of the switch casing with the cover plate removed and showing the contactor in certain open position. i

Fig. 9 represents a perspective view of the contaeter.

Figlil represents a perspective view oi the cam lever.

Fig. 11 represents a perspective View of the con tact having the binding post.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in Fig. 1, that numeral 5 represents the cowl portion 0f an automobile beneath which is located the usual toe board 6 rising from the 110er board 1. Above this is located the usual instrument board 8 upon which is mountedthe pull knob 9. Extending from the rear side of the instrument board 8 is the exible conduit l0 through which extends the wire l1 to the switch unit generally referred to by numeral 12 in Fig. l.

Again referring 'to Fig. 1, it can be seen 'that numeral 13 represents a starter storage battery having the ground wire 14 extending from one side thereof and the positive lead-ol wire 15 extending from the opposite side thereof. This battery 13 is mounted with any suitable carrier 16 on the frame l'l of the motor vehicle.

By referring to Figs. 2, 6 and 8, it can be seen vthat the switch involves a rectangular-shaped casing 18 open at one side and provided at this open side with a cover plate as shown in Figs. e and 5 and denoted by numeral 19.

1n Fig. 6, it can be seen that one side oi the casing 18 is tapered to provide a tongue 20 which is bent inwardly to a position at right angles to the said side from which it is struck. 1n this tongue 20 an opening 21 is provided and an opening 22 registering therewith is provided in one end of the casing 13. Through these openings 21 and 22 the shank 23 of the contacter 2d is 3@ slidable. lThis contacter 24 is provided with a tapered bloolr construction, while the shank 23 adjacent the said block construction is provided with an opening 25 which registers with the opening 26 in the ears 27 of the leg portions 28-28, these legs forming part of the cam lever generally referred to by numeral 29. These leg portions 28-28 and the compressed bight portions 3() are constructed of one piece sheet metal, the compressed bight portion 30 being provided with an opening 3l for receiving one end of the aforementioned control wire 11, which with the flexible cable 10 extends through an opening in one end oi the casing 18 in the manner substantially shown in Fig. 2.

A pin 32 is disposed through the openings 26 and 25 (see Figs. 9 and 10) for connecting the cam lever 29 to the shank 23 of the contactor 24.

1n Fig. 2, numeral 33 represents a plate slidable on the shank 23 and a coiled compressible spring 3d is interposed between this plate 33 and the end wall of the casing 18 having the opening 22 therein for the purpose of urging the shank 23 to a position engaging the contacter head 24 with the contacts d5-36.

The contact 35 is permanently secured to the casing 13, the latter being of current conducting material and grounded bybeing secured to the car frame 17 in the manner substantially shown in Fig. 3, and preferably by a suitable rivet or aeg rivets 37. The contact 36 is provided with a binding post 38 which extends through the adjacent end wall of the casing 18 and is equipped with nuts 39 whereby the ground wire 14 from the battery 13 can be clamped and suitably secured to the contact 36.

It can new be seen, that when the electricalr system of the vehicle iste be put out of service, the operator pulls en the knob 9. This rocks the cam lever 29 to the position shown in Fig. 8. As the gears 27 ride against the plate 33, and the protruding portions of the legs 28 ride against the tongue 20, the shank 23 of the contacter is shifted toward the right in Fig. 2 te separate the contacter 24 from the contacts 35-36.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in speciiic terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in. the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new isz- 1. A switch comprising a casing, a pair of contacts mounted within the casing, one of said con-r tacts being secured to the said casing, the other contacts being insulated from the said casing, said casing being of current conductive material, a contacter, a slidable bar carrying the said contacter, a cam member for moving the said bar away from the contacts, a control line for actuating the said cam, a fixed plate on the said bar and a spring interposed between the said urging the said plate against the cam.

2. A switch comprising a casing, a pair of contacts mounted within the casing, one of said contacts being secured to the said casing, the other contacts being insulated from the said casing, said casing being of current conductive material, a contacter, a slidable bar carrying the said contacter, a cam member for moving the said bar away from the contacts, a control line for actuating the said cam, a ixed plate on the said bar and a spring interposed between the said plate and the casing at one end thereof for urging the said plate against the cam, and a stationary abutment against which the said cam can ride.

3. A switch comprising a casing, a pair of contacts mounted within the casing, one of said contacts being secured to the said casing, the other contacts being insulated from the said casing, said casing being of current conductive material, a contacter, a slidable bar carrying the said contacter, a cam member for moving the said bar away from the contacts, a control line for actuating the said cam, a fixed plate on the said bar and a spring interposed between the said plate and the casing at one end thereof for urging the said plate against the cam, a stationary abutment against which the said cam can ride, said stationary abutment being formed by being struck from one side of the said casing.

JAMES A. LEEAH. CHARLES J. LEEAH. 

